Multiple station label printing machine

ABSTRACT

Label printing mechanism for use with and controlled by a ticket issuing system requiring labels with various data, such as store name, commodity name and grade, price per pound, selling price, data code, and operator code. Type printing elements and coded data bars are disposed on the periphery of a single printing cylinder or drum, there being an auxiliary cylinder in the nature of typewheels, journaled on an axis spaced from the axis of the drum and which, together with a pressure roller and print hammers, comprise printing stations for the labels. The typewheels are set or indexed by means of a key insertable in a slot in the printing cylinder, the key being programmed at intervals therealong corresponding to the typewheel locations. The single cylinder or drum is of modular construction to permit flexibility in adapting to a variety of printing applications.

United States Patent Toit et al.

[ Nov. 25, 1975 1 MULTIPLE STATION LABEL PRINTING MACHINE [75]Inventors: Roger D. Toft; Richard M. Froman,

both of Dayton, Ohio [52] US. Cl. ..101/91; 101/66; 101/99;

101/110; l01/93.12 [51] Int. Cl. 1341.] 3/46 [58] Field of Search101/91, 92, 68, 69, 76,

OTHER PUBLICATIONS A.P.C. Application of Mercier, Ser. No. 314407,published May 25, 1943.

Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Assistant E.xaminer-Edward M. CovenAttorney, Agent, or FirmJ. T. Cavender; Wilbert Hawk, Jr.; George J.Muckenthaler [57] ABSTRACT Label printing mechanism for use with andcontrolled by a ticket issuing system requiring labels with variousdata, such as store name, commodity name and grade, price per pound,selling price, data code, and operator code. Type printing elements andcoded data bars are disposed on the periphery of a single printingcylinder or drum, there being an auxiliary cylinder in the na- 5References Cited ture of typewheels, journaled on an axis spaced fromUNITED STATES PATENTS the axis of the drum and which, together with apressure roller and rint hammers, comprise printing stations for thelabels. The typewheels are set or indexed l605188 H926 Hubbard I 101mgby means of a key insertable in a slot in the printing 2:l79:269 11/1939Ogden.............................:101/91 x cylinder the key beingProgrammed at intervals there- 2,s22,751 2/1958 Haseloff 101 91 x alongCorresponding to the typewheel locations- The 2,933,038 4/1960 Thut etal. 101/91 Single cylinder or drum is of modular construction to3,223,033 12/1965 Sundblad lOl/l 10 X permit flexibility in adapting toa variety of printing 3,420,163 l/l969 'Ritzerfe1d.... 101/91 Xapplications, 3,468,479 9/1969 Sauter 101/110 x 3,731,622 5/1973Baranoff 101 110 x 2 Claims, 11 Drawmg Flgures it" b I30 (v I72 (7v L;242 I C" I ---"-1 j l l a Ca 82 s 13! sheet 1 of5 3,921,516

mum v Nov. 25, 1975 owc mad

US. Patent US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet20f5 3,921,516

FIG. 2

US. Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet30f5 3,921,516

US. Patent NOv. 25, 1975 Sheet 4 Of5 3,921,516

FIG. 5 I74 66 74 59 FIG. 7

lMPERIAL FOODTOWN 2 -----m l2l5 E STROOP RD DAYTON, OHIO WEIGHT VALUELBS NET flu '4 PER LB FRESH GROUND CHUCK 2 JAN 25 US CHO E |6| U.S.Patent Nov. 25, 1975 Sheet5of5 3,921,516

FIG. 9

I56 I55 I54 I53 I52 |5| 2|O Ill MULTIPLE STATION LABEL PRINTING MACHINEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of label or ticket printingmachines, there is usually provided a supply reel or spool on which iswound a continuous strip of tape or sheet material and which tape iscaused to be unwound from the reel and driven in controlled manner pasta printing station for imprinting on the tape the desired informationrelating to the purpose for which the label or ticket is to be used.Such information may be in the nature of data for athletic events withplace, date, seat and row numbers or letters, admission price, etc., itmay be in the nature of postal information with place, date, charges,etc., or it may be in the nature of data on commodity labels with storename, commodity name and grade, price per pound, selling price, etc.Depending upon the structure of the machine, either before or after theprinting of such information, the tape is severed or cut at preciselengths and the labels or tickets are ejected from the machine ready foruse. Of course, the latter severing operation normally is not used inthe case of tickets for athletic events, theaters, or the like whereinthe tape is perforated or weakened at precise points for easy tearoff bythe distributor of the tickets.

Over a number of years, label or ticket printing machines have beenimproved by inventors to obtain new results through the use of structurewhich includes patentable subject matter. The prior art covering certainstructure in this area of such printing machines is represented by BraunU.S. Pat. No. Re. 24, 547 which discloses a tag marking machine devisedto print and to perforate information on small tags, such machine havinga counter mechanism to control from one keyboard the setting of theprinting and perforating operation, a positive tag feeding mechanismeffective to feed a single tag or a web or strip of material, a tagcut-off mechanism controlled by the counter mechanism, and a printingmechanism which simultaneously prints and perforates the sameinformation upon successively fed tags. Davis et al. U.S. Pat. No.1,685,352 discloses a machine for providing classification slips with alarge cylinder carrying a small drum on the periphery thereof to producedifferent groups of type on the slips, and a plurality of numberingwheels rotatably mounted in the cylinder. Breitling et al. U.S. Pat. No.2,210,021 discloses printing means with a drum having several sets oftype wheels arranged circumferentially around ring gears for printing ofdate, commodity, clerk, amount, transaction, and special symbol.Jacobson U.S. Pat. No. 2.694.361 shows a rotary selective label printingmachine with a printing roller unit having a gang of rollerscircumferentially disposed to print various types of information. Alabel printing device with a wheel having grooves in the peripherythereof for reception of stamping blocks is disclosed in Draper U.S.Pat. No. 2,695.557. A ticket printer in connection with a scale andmeans for controlling feeding of a strip of tickets for precise lengthsthereof is shown in Allen U.S. Pat. No. 2,824,736. Thut et al. U.S. Pat.No. 2,933,038 discloses code recording apparatus with a cylindricalmember having metal block recording elements settable to differentpositions along the circumference of the cylinder. Pearson U.S. Pat. No.3,002,448 discloses a ticket issuing machine with a printing drum havinga printing plate fixed to its periphery and a row of setta- 2 ble disksmounted on the drium-and extending radially in a manner so that typecharacters on the disks are at the periphery of the drum. Lundquist etal. U.S. Pat. No. 3,062,133 shows a postal meter wherein a rotaryprinting drum carries an indicia die and an auxiliary printing drumcarries a circle die, rate die, and a removable die plate. A variablelength label printer having type face on the printing roller and acut-off knife mounted on a holder within the roller is shown in SohnU.S. Pat. No. 3,099,212. Bell U.S. Pat. No. 3,119,326 discloses a scaleand printer unit with such printer unit providing for intermittentadvancing, printing, and cutting of successive labels from a strip.Preprinted labels may include store name and like headings with furtherprinting of net weight, price per pound, total price, date, store code,and commodity name and grade, and the printing station has the type setup in a horizontal plane. May et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,356,021 discloses aselective printer and system for processing tickets having magneticinformation thereon and wherein the ticket handling mechanism isconnected to a computer. A main drive roll receives a ticket fromselector rolls, depending upon orientation of each ticket, and sends itto a printing station comprising two groups of print wheels and areversible incrementing clutch drive, with the print wheels having eachnumeral in both normal and reversed position. A friction drive member,keyed to a common shaft, drives each wheel until a magnetically drivenratchet stops the wheel, and actuation of several print start magnets,energized from the computer through emitter and sensor means, releaseimpact plates to strike the characters. A selective rotary epicycliclabel printer which includes a rotary unit on which are mounted one ormore printing devices for printing on a different line of the label isdisclosed in Kruger U.S. Pat. No. 3,363,550, and wherein an epicyclicgear train controls the printing device to roll along a pathsubstantially tangential to the label and to print with a rollingaction. Cyclic feeding of the labels is timed with the printing actionand there is provision for varying the radial position of the bed onwhich the labels are supported. Huber U.S. Pat. No. 3,453,952 disclosesa selective rotary printing machine wherein a cylinder has bores in oneof its end surfaces engageable with a pin attached to a connectingmember secured to the shaft. The cylinder carries a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced adjustable type mechanisms and a type fieldwith type characters on the periphery thereof. The position of the boresin the end surface correspond with the respective positions of the typemechanisms. Smith U.S. Pat. No. 3,662,681 shows and describes a ticketprinting and issuing machine with roller inker means wherein a pluralityof typewheel modules have a set of printing type elements along one-halfof its periphery and a set of indicator type elements along the otherhalf of its periphery. And, Levesque U.S. Pat. No. 3,768,402 et al.discloses a ticket printer having means for controllably advancing a webof material across a printing station which comprises a primary drumwith a plurality of printing indicia circumferentially spaced on atleast a portion of the periphery and a second drum mounted on an axisradially outward of the primary drum and having a plurality of printingindicia circumferentially spaced around at least a portion thereof.Levesque also discloses indexing means to provide for rotating thesecondary drum relative to the primary drum to position selected indiciaon the secondary drum adjacent selected indicia on the periphery of theprimary drum. Primary indexing means rotates the printing drum to placeany selected indicia on the drum into the printing position, and printhammer means is provided for urging the web of material into momentaryprinting contact against selected indicia on either drum.

Prior art in indexing or setting printing apparatus is disclosed inOhmer U.S. Pat. No. 768,619 wherein a conductors key is inserted in aslot in the printing member so as to have characters on the keyimpressed on a paper strip. Putnam U.S. Pat. No. 1,208,832 shows aprinting machine having a rotary printing member and an implement in theform of an engaging tool for insertion into notches in the type disk foradjusting thereof. Mitchell et al. US. Pat. No. 1,659,213 discloses atapered key for use with a combination printing and registeringapparatus wherein the key is mounted in a tapered keyway in the printelement spindle for locking the numeral wheels as well as the printingdie. And, Reiner US. Pat. No. 3,157,116 shows drum series type wheelsetting means wherein each of the printing and setting wheels isprovided with an inwardly projecting key formed in its bearing bore andengaging with corresponding keyways in the bearing bushing to provide arigid connection between the setting wheels and the printing typewheels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to printingmechanism and more particularly to label printing mechanism designed foruse with and controlled by a ticket issuing system requiring labelscontaining certain and various data, such as store name, commodity nameand grade, price per pound, selling price, data code, and operator code.A plurality of various type printing elements including alpha andnumeric characters and bar codes are disposed on the periphery of theprinting cylinder or drum and which, together with associated printingapparatus, comprise the specific and functional printing stations. Theprinting stations are readily adaptable for different length and widthtickets or labels, and which labels are derived initially from a supplyroll of tape or like continuous material, the tape being driven througha cut-off station, and the labels being guided in a path past the printdrum for the printing operation. The tape is first con'trollably driventhrough the cut-off station wherein a photocell detects or senses holesor notches in the tape to effect a shear knife operation at the precisepoint in travel of the tape. A single label drive roll then engages withthe label and propels it into proper registration at the print stationin readiness for impact by the print hammer.

The print drum mechanism includes an auxiliary printing station in theform of type wheels which are supported on a separate axis radiallydisposed from the axis of the drum and which type wheels are alsoadjust-.

able or settable by means of a set-up key which is inserted in a slot inthe drum and engageable with the type wheels. The auxiliary stationwheels carry type characters on the periphery thereof, whereas the mainprint drum has type characters and bar characters secured thereto inaddition to removable insert keys on the periphery. The set-up key has aseries of notches or indentations therealong at intervals correspondingto the type wheel locations of the print drum. A springloaded detent islocated in the print drum end plate permitting location determination ofthe key with respect to the several wheels, and as the key is withdrawnfrom the drum, the key is rotatable at each specific interval toposition a respective type wheel. A selection code is provided by a dialon the end plate and a color code may be placed on the key to correspondto the type wheel being set.

The print hammers are magnetically held and timing pulses are receivedfrom an electromagnet adjacent the teeth on the main drum to activateselected hammers. A cam is used to restore the hammers to theirnonprinting position. After the printing operation, a label ejector isactivated to remove the printed label from the print station and todeposit such label in a container.

In view of the above discussion, the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide an improved label printing mechanism.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a printingcylinder or drum having type ele ments on the periphery thereof andincluding an auxiliary set of type wheels radially disposed from theaxis of the print drum.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plurality oftype elements wherein certain of the elements are adjustable or settablein relation to other elements. t,

A further object of the present invention is to provide indexing orsetting means having identifying means corresponding to the typeelements being indexed or set.

Additional advantages and features of the present invention will becomeapparent and fully understood from a reading of the followingdescription taken together with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a label printer, generallydiagrammatic in nature, and including the structure of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of certain structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the printing apparatus taken along theplane 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the plane 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6, on the sheet with FIG. 1, is a view of a chart showing thevarious settings for typewheels from the set-up or index key;

FIG. 7 is a face view of the arrangement of the printed label;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the serrated plate which ispositioned adjacent the typewheels;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the typewheel setting key;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along the plane l010 of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the typewheel assembly.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the label printing machine includes areel 12 journaled on a shaft 13 and carrying a supply of label materialin the form of tape 14 or the like, which material is caused to beunwound from the reel 12 in controlled manner by means of a supply rolldrive motor 16. The tape 14 is driven in a path over a first fixed idlerl8 journaled on a pin 19, around a movable idler 20, and over a secondfixed idler 22, carried on a pin 23, the movable idler 20 beingjournaled on a pin 24 carried on a tension arm 26 which is pivotallyconnected to a pin 28 on a frame member 30 adjacent the reel 12, the-pin24 being movable in an arcuate slot 31 in frame rn emb er 30-forrelative movement of the arm 26. The--tension arm 26 is held in biasedmanner by means of a torsion spring 32 on the pin 28 to maintain propertension on the tape 14, which tape is driven intermittently by the motor16 through a drive roll 34 connected by a drive belt 36 to the motor.Cooperating with the drive roll 34 is a tape drive roll for moving thetape 14 in a precise path toward the printing station. The tape 14 isdirected over the second fixed idler 22 along such path between guideplates 38 and 40, forming a chute for the tape and positioned to retainsuch tape 14 in a horizontal plane in the area of travel prior to theprinting station. The tape reel 12 may be a standard 8 inch or largerdiameter reel, and the tape 14 may be of stock material up to 3 inchesin width depending upon the amount of printed material desired thereon.

A shear knife assembly and the controls therefor are supported in anarrangement above and to the rearward side of the pair of guide plates38 and 40, the shear knife assembly comprising a knife 42, a knife drivebar 44, a knife restore spring 46, a shear bar 48, and a drive barrestore spring 50. A solenoid 52 is connected to the drive bar 44 bymeans of an arm 54 and a pin 56, the solenoid 52 being actuated byconnection to a light source in the form of a photocell 58 which detectsapertures or slots (not shown) in the tape 14 to actuate the knife 42and thereby shear the tape at predetermined locations to provide fortape portions of correct length as labels 59. The shear knife 42, theshear bar 48, and the photocell 58 are adjustable to several positionsso as to provide for different lengths of labels 59, if so desired.

A second pair of guide plates 60 and 62, in the form of a chute for thelabels 59, are disposed just beyond the shear knife to receive thelabels 59 in successive manner and to direct such labels in singularfashion past the printing station. A single label drive roll 66 (seeFIGS. 3 and 4), positioned beyond the shear knife 42, is used to advanceeach label 59 in such singular and successive fashion, the drive roll 66being connected through a clutch 68 (see FIG. 2) with a main drive motor70, the clutch being operated and rotated at a lower speed of 120 rpm bymeans of reduction members in the drive line from the standard 1725 rpmto such 120 rpm.

Printing a portion of the matter on the labels 59 is accomplished byprint hammers 80 which are actuated from a timing pulse electromagnet 82which is positioned adjacent a toothed wheel or disk 83 (FIG. 5) carriedon the print drum or cylinder shaft and rotating therewith. A holdingmagnet 84 maintains the print hammers 80 in a cocked position until thehammers are fired by conventional means such as a magnetic actuatingassembly, there being a hammer restore cam line 86 connected to the mainmotor 70 through a hammer restore cam drive 87, (FIG. 2) and cam linefollower springs 88 having preset forces, such forces being exerted bythe hammers 80 on release thereof, and being determined and establishedthrough the use of cam controlled hammer lever arms 90, FIG. 1.

A label ejector in the form of a roller 100 is connected to the maindrive motor 70 through a drive member 101, the ejector roller 100 beingspring loaded and actuated by a solenoid 102 through an arm 104 to movethe ejector roller 100 against the label 59 and thereby cause the labelto be driven from the chute area, formed by guide plates 60, 62, aftercompletion of printing.

Printing of the labels 59 is accomplished by means of a print drumstation 110 and a print cylinder station 112 (see specifically FIGS. 3,.4, and 5). the axis of the cylinder station 112 being parallel to andspaced from that of the drum station 110.. The drum station 110 isdriven from the main drive motor through a shaft 113 and isapproximately four inches in diameter and carries on the peripherythereof numeric data 115, bar code data 116, and locating slots forcommodity inserts 117, 118, 119, the numeric data 115 being in the formof type characters engraved on the surface of the drum and the bar codedata 116 also being engraved thereon. The numeric data or typecharacters occupy approximately one-fourth of the periphery of the drum110, the characters 115 being spaced in twelve columns and reading from09 in rows so as to be struck by the hammers 80 in predeterminedsequence to print the net weight, the price per pound, and the totalprice or value of a commodity. The bar code data 116 occupiesapproximately one-fourth of the periphery of the drum 110 and is spacedin columns and rows so as to print the desired code upon impact by thehammers 80 at the precise times. The commodity inserts 117, 118, 119 arelocated in slots on the periphery of the drum 110 and are removable topermit different formats to be printed. One of the inserts 117 containsthe store name and address, another insert 118 con tains the words lbsnet weight, value, and price per lb, and a third insert 119 contains thecommodity and/or ingredients thereof. As the print drum is rotated,additional printing on the label 59 is accomplished by rolling pressureof the label drive roller 66 on the several inserts 117, 118, 119 afterinking of the inserts by a spring-loaded inking roll 114, (FIG. 4)carried on a shaft 99 and engageable with the various data characters.Each of the inserts 117, 118, 119 includes, at the ends thereof,serrations 89 (FIG. 3) for advancing the labels 59 upon engagementtherewith and as the drum 110 is rotated counterclockwise into positionfor printing on the labels by the inserts 117, 118 and 119.

The print cylinder station 112 comprises a plurality of typewheels, suchas wheel 111, FIG. 4, having a common axis spaced from and parallel withthe axis of the print drum 110, the typewheel 111 being positioned inrelation to thelperiphery of the printdrum 110 so as to place theperiphery of the typewheel characters in an extended manner slightlybeyond the periphery of the drum 110. The print drum 110 has a portionof the periphery removed therefrom, in the form of a window 108, topermit placement of the typewheels in such manner, the printing on thelabel 59 being performed by the rolling pressure of the label driveroller 66 over the typewheel characters exposed in the window 108. Suchtypewheel characters include symbols for an operator code, grade ofcommodity, and the date, which information changes sufficiently often tonecessitate setting and resetting of the typewheels.

As seen in FIGS. 5, 9, and 10, a special key 120 with a handle 121 ispositionable into hollow cylinder or bushing portions 122 (FIG. 4) onwhich the typewheel 111 and adjacent wheels are supported in integralmanner, the wheels being independently rotatable of each other so as toenable changing of the various factors or symbols. The bushing portions122 include a slot 124 on the interior diameter along its length formating with a rib 126 on the key 120, the: rib 126 and slot 124cooperating to rotate the typewheels when inserted into the bushingportions 122. Additionally, the key 120 contains indentations 128 spacedalong its lower side and substantially around the periphery thereof,such indentations corresponding to typewheel locations axially along theprint cylinder 172, so that at each wheel location, and as the insertkey 120 is being withdrawn from the bushing portions 122, rotation ofthe key 120 engages a particular typewheel, such as wheel 111, forrotational setting thereof to the desired position. A series of detents130, FIG. 4, carried on a pivot 132 and biased by springs 133 connectedto a pin 134, are engageable in the slots of each typewheel and betweenthe teeth thereof to retain the typewheels in the desired alignedposition. Further, the print drum 110 includes an aperture 131 forstorage of the insert key 120 after setting of the typewheels. Suchaperture 131 is located adjacent the typewheel assembly whereuponstorage of the key 120 positions the rib 126 in the groove betweenadjacent teeth of each typewheel to maintain all wheels in alignedmanner and in the position as keyed" by the operator.

As seen in FIG. 6, on the sheet with FIG. 1, a chart 140 shows theformat of the various symbols used on the typewheels, such as the wheel111, for the operator code, as designated by one of the letters shown inrow 142 of the chart 140, grade of the commodity, as in row 144, and thedate, as shown in rows 146, 148, and 150, and as set forth andcorresponding to positions of the typewheels as set by the special key120. Since there are twelve teeth on each typewheel, such as previouslymentioned wheel 111 (FIG. and a plurality of adjacent wheels 151, 152,153, 154, 155, and 156, each wheel can be set to any one of the twelvepositions indicated to be accessible in the window 108 on the side ofthe print clrum 110 to provide the desired printing. It should be herenoted that the label 59 is carried through and emerges from the printingstation with the printing on the bottom side in a manner so that thename of the store is printed last, as seen in the face view ofthe label59, FIG. 7. For example, the typewheel 111 on the right side in FIG. 5carries number characters for a code, such as number of pieces or thelike, as illustrated at the bottom of the chart 140. Suffice it to saythat the numbers 112 could indicate other codes as required or in themanner desired.

The next typewheel, shown as 151 in FIGS. 5 and 11, and being of widerdimension, carries the month, and the next two wheels, 152 and 153,carry the numbers for the days of the month. The next typewheel 154 hasthe letters U S, typewheel 155 carries the grade of the commodity asshown in row 144 of chart 140, and typewheel 156 carries the twelveletters signifying an operator code as in row 142 of chart 140, andselectable by each specific operator.

l nking of the type characters on the typewheels 111 and 151156, of thedata on the commodity inserts 117,118, and 119, and of the code bars 116is enabled by means of the inking roller 114 carried on the shaft 99,the roller 114 having an elongated journal portion for lost-motionmovement as the roller is rotated upon engagement with the periphery ofthe print drum 110 and the print cylinder 112. This construction, ofcourse, enables limited movement of the roller 114 so as to apply aneven cover of ink on the several characters and symbols which elementsmay vary in height around the periphery of the drum 110.

In FIG. 7 is indicated on the label 59, in line 8 as reference 161thereof, the printing 2 JAN 25 US CHO E meaning the number of pieces orlike data 2, the latest date JAN 25 for marketing of the item, US Choiceas the grade, and the operator's code E. The first three lines,indicating store name and address thereof and designated 162, althoughprinted lastly of the several data on the label 59, are printed from thecommodity insert 117 as the print drum is rotated past the label driveroll 66, and the letters in the next two lines, designated as 164, areprinted from the commodity insert 118 as the print drum 110 is rotatedpast the drive roll 66. Printing of the weight, price, and value innumerals and designated 166 is performed by impact of the hammers 80against the type characters on the periphery of the print drum 110, asis printing of the bar code upon impact of the hammers 80 against thebar characters 116. Printing of the commodity and/or ingredients asFresh Ground Chuck and designated 168 is accomplished by passage of thecommodity insert 119 under the drive roll 66.

Referring back to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the print drum 110 includes cammingsurfaces 170 and 172. such camming surfaces being positioned on endplates 180, 182 of the drum 110 to be engageable by a shaft 174 whichcarries the pressure roller 66, all for the purpose of preventingcontact of the roller 66 with the code bars 116 and with the typecharacters 115 on the periphery of the drum. The camming surfaces 170,which are adjacent the bars 116 (FIG. 4), and the camming surfaces 172,which are adjacent the type characters 115, and upon rotation of theprint drum 110, engage the shaft 174 and raise such shaft and roller 66so as not to press against the freshly-inked bars 116 or characters 115,as printing from these elements is accomplished by means of the printhammers 80. Again, the drive roll 66 in cludes provision for limitedmovement, in an up and down direction, on the shaft 174 by means of alostmotion connection therebetween to accommodate the different heightsof the several type elements.

In the assembly of the print drum 110 along with that of the printcylinder 112 and the various typewheels 111, 151-156, the drum 110 iscomprised of the two members and 182 forming the end plates and eachhaving a disk-shaped portion for the periphery of the drum and forcontaining the various type characters 115, the code bars 116, and theremovable inserts 117, 118 and 119. The two halves, portion 183 andportion 185 are joined together and secured by means of long screws 188after assembly of the typewheel line.

Referring now to FIG. 11, which shows the line of typewheels, the endportions 180 and 182 have hubs 184 and 186, respectively, thereon, thehub 184 including a recess 188 and a bore 189 for a spring-loaded detent 191 (FIG. 5) engageable with the various notches 128 in key 120,and the hub 186 of end portion 182 having a recess 190. Adjacent endwall 180 is a circular-shaped member 192, see also FIG. 8, having ears194 and 196 thereon with a stud 198 secured to ear 194 and a stud 200secured to ear 196, the ends of the studs 198 and 200 being contactablewith the inner surface of end plate 180, as seen in FIG. 5. The member192 has a hub 202 for mating with recess 188 in hub 184 for support ofthe member in the line of typewheels. Next in line is the typewheel 111with the twelve teeth and type characters thereon, the wheel having arecess 204 in one side thereof for mating with a hub 206 on the member192 and on the opposite side from the hub 202. Typewheel 151 has arecess 208 therein for mating with a hub 210 on wheel 111, and exceptfor the .width of succeeding wheels 152-156, each is identical to wheel111 in having a recess and a hub cooperating with a hub and a recess inadjacent wheels. A second circular-shaped member 212 is on the left handside of the typewheel line with ears 214 and 216 and studs 218 and 220serving the same function those of the mem ber192 on the right handside, i.e. the ends of the studs 218, 220 being contactable with theinner surface of end plate 182, as seen in FIG. 5. Typewheel 156 alsoincludes a recess 221 in one side for the hub of the preceding typewheel155, and a hub 222 for mating with a recess 224 in the member 212, suchmember having a hub 228 cooperating with recess 190 in hub 186 of endplate 182. The several typewheels 111, 151-156 are thus supported in amanner wherein each wheel has a recess and a hub for fitting and matingwith an adjacent wheel, the fit being such that the wheels areadequately supported in the line-up, but are free to rotate during thesetting or indexing thereof. Additionally, the members 192 and 212 eachhave a pair of notches 230 and 232 (FIG. 8) cut therein for reception ofthe rib 126 of key 120 when the key is inserted into aperture 131 of theprint drum 110 for storage of the key 120' after setting of thetypewheels 111, 151-156. The notches 230 and 232 also correspond inshape with the groove be tween the teeth of the typewheels and arelocated 180 degrees apart so that in any indexed position of thetypewheels 111, 151-156, the set-up key 120, when in the storageposition (see FIG. 4), will maintain all the wheels 111, 151-156 and thecircular members 192, 212 in precise position.

The members 192 and 212 also include serrated portions on opposite sidesthereof, the serrated portion 240 on the right side of the member 192shown in FIG. 8 being oflesser circumferential length (approximatelyone-quarter inch) than the serrated portion 242 on the left side of themember 192, this being also true for member 212 although reversed inposition for the left hand side. In the position shown in FIG. 4, themember 212 is set in a manner that the serrated portion 240 is exposedto be engageable with the label 59 as the print drum 110 is rotated,such engagement serving to advance the label 59 a predetermined distancefor printing the bar code data 116. If such data 116 is desired to beprinted at the bottom of the label 59, the serrated portion 240 willgrip the label 59 and advance it approximately the onequarter inch forproper positioning for printing by the hammers 80. If such data 116 isnot desired to be printed, the index key 120 is removed from its storageaperture 131 adjacent the typewheel assembly in print drum 110 and themembers 192 and 212 are rotated 180 so as to expose the serrated portion242 for engagement with the label 59 and thereby drive or advance thelabel approximately one-half inch to position it for further printing.It should be noted that the face view of the label 59, FIG. 7, is notdrawn to scale but is representative of the format to be printed thereonby the hammers 80 and the pressure roller 66. While so setting themembers 192 and 212, the detents 130 are sufficiently biased by springs133 to maintain the typewheels 111, 151-156 in position as the members192, 212 are rotated with the studs 198, 200 sliding along the insidesurface of end wall 180 and with the studs 218, 220 sliding along theinside surface of end wall 182. Upon setting of the members 192 and 212to the new position, the index key 120 is inserted into the storageaperture 131 to lock the various elements (the members 192, 212 and thetypewheels 111, 151-156) in alignment.

In the operation of the label printing machine, the typewheels 111,151-156 are set up or indexed by inserting the special key into thecylindrical space formed by the bushing portions 122, the circularmembers 192, 212 and by the tongue and groove construction, morespecifically the hub and recess configuration of the typewheels 111,151.456 for supporting the wheels in the aligned manner, the key 120 isthen withdrawn in increments to the respective wheels and rotated alongwith each typewheel to the desired position. With the index key 120fully inserted along the typewheels 111, 151-156, the key 120 is rotatedin a counterclockwise direction to cooperate with the bias of thedetents 130, such rotation bringing the bushing portion 122 and thetypewheel 156 to the desired type charac ter position so as to beexposed in window 108 of the drum 110. In the fully inserted position ofthe key 120, the indentation 128 nearest the handle 121 is engaged bythe detent 191 in the hub 184 of end wall 180 and rib 126 of the key 120cooperates with notch 124 to rotate the typewheel 156. Withdrawing theindex key 120 to the position of the next typewheel 155, and with anindication of the detent 191 being removedfrom the rightmost notch 128and slipping into the next notch to the left, the key is now in positionto index typewheel by engagement of the rib 126 with notch 124 of thebushing portion 122. The key 120 thus positions the various typewheels111, 151156 as it is rotated at each respective wheel and withdrawn inincremental and successive manner until all wheels are set or indexed.It should be noted that there are seven indentations 128 in the key 120corresponding to the positions of the seven typewheels 111, 151156 sothat at any time the number of indentations exposed on the key 120 canbe used to determine at which wheel the rib 126 is engaged.Additionally, if only one or two typewheels require resetting, thenumber of notches 128 can be observed and the operator then knows whichwheel or wheels to reset. Further to this, a color code can be placed onthe'index key 120 with different colors (say in striped manner) assignedto the typewheels.

The label supply drive motor 16 is activated by means of a micro switch(not shown) in the circuitry, such switch being controlled by the hammerlever control arm 90 and connected to the supply roll drive roller 34-,or by means of a photocell (not shown) used in conjunction with thetiming disk 83. The drive motor 16 advances the label paper or tape 14until the photocell assembly 58 senses a hole or :notch in the paper ortape 14, and which causes the drive motor to be de-energized, thismanner of sensing, being utilized in the case of preprinted label stockwhich includes such holes or notches along the edges thereof, Ifstandard label stock is used, the length of each label can be determinedand controlled by means of the cam operated micro switch (not shown)attached to one end of the supply roll drive 34, as mentioned above, andone revolution of the drive roller 34 will then determine the labellength. At such time of de-energization of the supply roll drive motor16, the leading edge of the label paper 14 will be under the singlelabel drive roller 66 and the label paper shear knife solenoid 52 isactivated to shear the paper 14 at the proper length to provide thelabel 59, which label may be one and one half or two inches in length aspresently used in the industry. If the shear assembly is set or adjustedfor two inch length labels, the shear assembly including the shear knife42 and shear bar 48 may be advanced leftward or the photocell assembly58 may be moved to the right to obtain labels of lesser length.

After shearing of the label paper 14 to provide, say a two inch label59, the spring clutch 68 is engaged to be driven by the main drive motor70 and the print drum 110 is rotated whereupon the ink roller 114applies ink to the characters 115, the code bars 116, and the inserts117, 118, and 119 on the periphery of the print drum 110 and includingthe type characters on the typewheels 111, 151156 making up the printcylinder or typewheel assembly 112. In addition to the data con tainedon the typewheels, and as described above, the print cylinder 112 alsoincludes the members 192, 212 at each end of the typewheel assembly andprovided with the serrated teeth 240, 242 to advance the label 59. Thearcuate length of these serrations on the members 192, 212 will be setby the operator for the printing application wherein, in the case of thebar code data 116 being printed on the label 59 the members 192, 212 areset so as to advance the label approximately one-fourth inch such as isshown in FIG. 4 by the lesser number of serrations shown on the righthand side of the printing cylinder 112 to be engageable with the label59. If such bar code data 116 is not to be printed, the serrated members192, 212 will be rotated 180 to position the greater number ofserrations on the right-hand side of the printing cylinder 112 to beengageable with the label 59 to further advance the label so as to startprinting further from the leading edge of the label. If such bar codedata 116 is to be printed, it will occupy the bottom or leading edge ofthe label 59 (FIG. 7) wherein the label will be properly positioned atthe print cylinder 110 as it is advanced under the single label driveroller 66 with the serrations 240 driving the label from right to left.During movement of the label 59, the data contained on the printcylinder typewheels 111, l51156 will be printed on the label by reasonof passing of the typewheels under the single label drive roller 66 toprint the operator code, the grade of the commodity, and the date, asseen in FIG. 7 and designated as 161. Atthe proper time in the cycle,movement of the label 59 is stopped in its travel by reason of theserrations 240 or 242 having advanced the label to a position where theleading edge of the label 59 is adjacent the print hammers 80.

As the print drum 110 continues to rotate, the bar code data 116 passesunder the print hammers 80 and timing pulses received from theelectromagnet 82 are used to fire the appropriate print hammers 80against the code bars 116 on the print drum 110. In line with printingof the bar code 116, the inner and outer end plates 180, 182 of theprint drum ll contain the raised camming surfaces 170, 172 to insurethat the single label drive roller 66 will not contact the freshly inkedengraved bars 116 as they approach the print station and to therebypermit proper printing of the bar code 116 by the print hammers 80.After the bar code data 116 has been printed, rotation of the hammerrestore cam 86 positions the print hammers 80 in nonprinting conditionagainst the hammer hold magnet assembly 84.

As the print drum 110 continues to further rotate, the commodity oringredient insert 119 is inked by the ink roller 114 and then passesunder the single label drive roller 66 to print the commodityinformation, as shown on the label 59 in FIG, 7 and designated as 168.As with the members 192, 212 of the print cylinder 112, each of theinserts 117, 118, and 119 also contains the serrations 89 to advance thelabel 59 and to determine the height of t'he printing'a'rea. Printing'vis accomplished 12 when the insert passes under the label drive roller66 while the serrations 89 on the appropriate insert advance the label59.

The information containing the words weight, value, and price, as seenin FIG. 7 and designated as 164, is next printed on the label afterinking of the insert 118 by the ink roller 66. In the case of preprintedlabels, where such words may already be on the label, the insert 118will be used, by reason of the serrations 89 thereon, to advance thelabel 59 without printing and position the label under the print hammers80. The numeric data, as shown in H6. 7 and desiganted as 166, relatingto the weight, value, and price, which data is in the form of typecharacters 115 engraved on the periphery of the print drum 110, is thenselected and printed by the print hammers following proper inking by theroller 114, and the hammers 80 are again restored to a ready conditionagainst the hammer hold magnet 84.

The final printing operation is that of printing the store name andaddress, as shown in FIG. 7 and designated as 162, wherein the insert117 carries the information thereon and after inking by the roller 114,the rotation of the print drum 110 moves the insert 117 under the singlelabel drive roller 66 to imprint the data on the label 59. Uponcompletion of this printing, the print drum 110 will stop rotating. Thelabel ejector so lenoid 102 is then activated for driving the labelejector roller against the label 59 and rotation of the roller 100 bythe main drive motor 70 causes the label 59 to be driven from the chutearea formed by the trailing edge of guides 60 and 62. At this point intime, the label supply drive roller motor 16 is again activated toinitiate'a new printing cycle.

It is thus seen that herein shown and described is a multiple stationlabel printing machine which is simple and compact, which is readilyadjustable to be adapted for various label formats, and which includesmodular construction to provide for ease of servide. The printingmachine provides for a line of printing effected by the print hammersand a line of printing effected by the roller, the print hammers beingpositioned in spaced relationship from the roller to enable selectiveengagement of the hammers and of the roller with the record material forprinting thereon. ln this respect, the roller is moved to anon-operating position during the time of printing of certain of thetype elements by the print hammers. The apparatus enables theaccomplishment of the objects and advantages mentioned above, and whileonly one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed herein, certainvariations thereon may occur to those skilled in the art. It iscontemplated that all such variations, not departing from the spirit andscope of the invention hereof, are to be construed in accordance withthe following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A printing machine including a supply of record material,

means for driving said record material in a path toward a printingstation,

printing apparatus comprising a first drum rotatably mounted on an axisalong the path of said record material,

said first drum having fixed and removable recording elements on theperiphery thereof in spaced relationship, a second drum rotatablymounted on an axis substantially parallel to and spaced from the firstmentioned axis, said second drum being substantially enclosed by saidfirst drum and having settable recording elements on the peripherythereof in spaced relationship and including advancement means foradvancing said record material to permit printing on different areasthereof aperture means in said first drum adjacent said second drum, a

plurality of print hammer means operable into contact with said recordmaterial and against certain of said recording elements,

roller means spaced from said print hammers and movable to anon-operating position during the time of printing by said print hammermeans to be selectively engageable with said record material to presssaid record material against certain other of said recording elements toeffect printing on said record material, and means insertable into saidsecond drum and engageable with said settable recording elements forsetting thereof and insertable into said aperture means to be engageablewith said settable recording elements and with said advancement meansfor looking thereof.

2. [n a label printer having a record material supply, means for drivingthe record material in a path toward a printing station, means forsevering the record material into predetermined lengths so as to formindividual labels, and means for driving said labels past said printingstation, the improvement comprising a first printing cylinder rotatablymounted on an axis along the path of said record material, said cylinderhaving fixed and removable type characters on the periphery thereof inspaced relationship, a

second printing cylinder rotatably mounted on an axis parallel to andspaced from the first-mentioned axis, said second cylinder havingindividually settable type wheels with characters on the peripherythereof in spaced relationship and including advancement means foradvancing said labels to permit printing on different areas thereof,aperture means in said first cylinder adjacent said second cylinder, a

plurality of print hammer means operable into contact with said recordmaterial and against certain of said type characters for printing ofsaid labels,

roller means adjacent said print hammers at said print station andmovable to a non-operating position during the time of printing by saidprint hammer means and engageable with and pressable against certainother of said type characters for printing of said labels, and

key means insertable into said second cylinder and engageable with saidtype wheels for setting thereof and insertable into said aperture meansto be engageable with said type wheels and with said advancement meansfor locking thereof.

1. A printing machine including a supply of record material, means fordriving said record material in a path toward a printing station,printing apparatus comprising a first drum rotatably mounted on an axisalong the path of said record material, said first drum having fixed andremovable recording elements on the periphery thereof in spacedrelationship, a second drum rotatably mounted on an axis substantiallyparallel to and spaced from the first mentioned axis, said second drumbeing substantially enclosed by said first drum and having settablerecording elements on the periphery thereof in spaced relationship andincluding advancement means for advancing said record material to permitprinting on different areas thereof aperture means in said first drumadjacent said second drum, a plurality of print hammer means operableinto contact with said record material and against certain of saidrecording elements, roller means spaced from said print hammers andmovable to a non-operating position during the time of printing by saidprint hammer means to be selectively engageable with said recordmaterial to press said record material against certain other of saidrecording elements to effect printing on said record material, and meansinsertable into said second drum and engageable with said settablerecording elements for setting thereof and insertable into said aperturemeans to be engageable with said settable recording elements and withsaid advancement means for looking thereof.
 2. In a label printer havinga record material supply, means for driving the record material in apath toward a printing station, means for severing the record materialinto predetermined lengths so as to form individual labels, and meansfor driving said labels past said printing station, the improvementcomprising a first printing cylinder rotatably mounted on an axis alongthe path of said record material, said cylinder having fixed andremovable type characters on the periphery thereof in spacedrelationship, a second printing cylinder rotatably mounted on an axisparallel to and spaced from the first-mentioned axis, said secondcylinder having individually settable type wheels with characters on theperiphery thereof in spaced relationship and including advancement meansfor advancing said labels to permit printing on different areas thereof,aperture means in said first cylinder adjacent said second cylinder, aplurality of print hammer means operable into contact with said recordmaterial and against certain of said type characters for printing ofsaid labels, roller means adjacent said print hammers at said printstation and movable to a non-operating position during the time ofprinting by said print hammer means and engageable with and pressableagainst certain other of said type characters for printing of saidlabels, and key means insertable into said second cylinder andengageable with said type wheels for setting thereof and insertable intosaid aperture means to be engageable with said type wheels and with saidadvancement means for locking thereof.